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Known Day 15 Jehovah Nissi

July 28, 2023 by Marietta Taylor Leave a Comment

Known Day 15 Jehovah Nissi

Marietta Taylor

July 28, 2023

Believe,Faith,Fear,God,Humility,Identity,Know

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Samuel 17:45-47
Exodus 17:8-16
Isaiah 11:1-12
Romans 8:31-39
John 12:23-36

When my daughter was a senior in high school, she was very sick and needed to do “home study” for part of the quarter. The principal and teachers were all on board and supportive, except one.  He refused to cooperate in any area. He threw up roadblock after roadblock, though he knew the challenges of her situation. So, this momma bear fought for her daughter. Without me standing up for her, he would have failed her.

We have someone infinitely more fiercely loving than any momma bear. We know Him as Jehovah Nissi, The Lord Our Banner. What does His name mean you ask?

Nissi comes from the Hebrew word Nes (nês), meaning something lifted up as a standard or banner. (Blue Letter Bible) A standard is a flag or rallying point during battle, while a banner was usually set on top of a mountain to show people where to assemble and it flew over the warriors as they fought.

Friends, our Lord is not only the banner flying over us, He is also the One fighting for us. We are assured of this throughout Scripture. (2 Chronicles 20:15, 1 Samuel 17:47, Exodus 14:13-14, Romans 8:37) Tucked in Exodus 17:8-16, we find an excellent portrayal of Jehovah Nissi fighting for His people; it’s also the only place in Scripture specifically referencing the name Jehovah Nissi. Let’s peek in.

The Amalekites, Israel’s enemy, came to fight at Rephidim. Joshua gathered some men while Moses stood on top of the hill with the Lord’s staff (Exodus 4:1-5), along with his brother, Aaron, and friend, Hur. Moses held the staff over the men fighting below. “While Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his hand down, Amalek prevailed.” (Exodus 17:11) So Aaron and Hur helped by supporting Moses’ arms so the staff wouldn’t lower, and Joshua and his men defeated the Amalekites.

Seems like Moses was the banner, right?
Not So!

“And Moses built an altar and named it, “The Lord Is My Banner.” He said, “Indeed, my hand is lifted up toward the Lord’s throne.” (Exodus 17:15-16)  Moses knew and documented the real source of the victory was God. Jehovah Nissi orchestrated this victory, while using Moses, Joshua, Aaron, Hur and the staff.

Throughout the Old Testament, God fights relentlessly for His people. In Exodus, God protected the Israelites as a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. (Exodus 13:20-22) When the Egyptians pursued the Israelites to take them back into slavery, the Lord parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross through and then, “During the morning watch, the Lord looked down at the Egyptian forces from the pillar of fire and cloud, and threw the Egyptian forces into confusion. He caused their chariot wheels to swerve and made them drive with difficulty.” (Exodus 14:24-26)

Other examples you can explore on your own are found in Judges 7:13-22, 2 Chronicles 32:6-22, 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, 2 Kings 6:8-18, Daniel 3:8-27, and Daniel 6:1-23. Each example of God fighting for His people gives me chills.

But what about the New Testament?
Have I got news for you!

Isaiah 11:1-12 tells us of the “new” banner.
Verse 10 says, “On that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will look to him for guidance, and his resting place will be glorious.”

Who is the root of Jesse?
Jesus.

Jesus, the root of Jesse,
was hung on a cross on the hill called Golgotha
as a banner over us.

He said of Himself,
“As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth
I will draw all people to Myself.”

(John 12:32)

He was lifted up on that cross,
becoming the banner of righteousness and redemption
so that sin and death would be forever conquered.
All who trust in Jehovah Nissi would live!

With His life, He showed us what God was like as love lived out.
With His death, He won every victory for us, spreading the banner of reconciliation with our Most Holy God over all who trust in Him.

Why though?
It’s simple yet profound.
John 3:16-17
explains, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

God loves us. He loves us so much He fights for us.
He is our protection and our rallying cry.
We assemble under His power and authority so we can win and then give Him every ounce of glory.

In my Faces of Grace story I share of a time when I traveled down some dark roads. The darkness appeared to hold the victory, but Jehovah Nissi fought for me, His daughter.
“He saved my life.
And it wasn’t because I deserved it,
but because He loved me.
He still loves me.”

Sisters, let us draw near to God.
Read His Word.
Carry it in our hearts.
Live it out.

And when we need a victory, rely on the One known as Jehovah Nissi.
We are known as His daughters.
When He wins, we win, then we glorify Him.

Let me leave you with something to help you remember Jehovah Nissi,
who will never stop fighting for you!
“Fighting For Me” by Riley Clemmons

Tags :
banner,Jehovah,love,Names of God
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Recent Journeys

Done Day 11 Reconciled Redemption
August 7, 2023
The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 3
July 29, 2023
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Known, Day 15
Digging Deeper

Armed with years of learning to rely on the Lord (and speak and sing to Him, as the psalms record), the confidence David displayed as he faced Goliath wasn’t out of character from his everyday walk with the Lord, this was just one more opportunity to trust Him as evidenced by his own words, “The LORD […] will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (verse 37)
Dig Deeper!

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July 10 - July 28, 2023 - Journey Theme #121

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Posted in: Believe, Faith, Fear, God, Humility, Identity, Know Tagged: banner, Jehovah, love, Names of God

The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 2

July 22, 2023 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 2

Rebecca Adams

July 22, 2023

Believe,Dwell,God,Know,Worship

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Isaiah 6:1-4

“[…] I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of His robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; His glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.”
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Lord, I have no special words, no righteous posture, no “right” on my own accord to come to Your presence now. My sin has scarred these hands anew just today.

Your throne is high and lofty; who can ascend Your holy hill?! (Psalm 24:3) Surely not a sinner like me, but in the same breath, I dare not speak against Your Word that says You condemn none in Christ, which means I’m welcome here in Your Throne room. Simply Unfathomable Grace and Love!

I’m so undeserving to bask in Your presence, to sit awash in Your ocean of comfort, joy, and peace made possible because of Your forgiveness. Yet, You have given me the “right” to be Your child, called as Your own.

Refresh my heart, restore my soul, O Shepherd, as I worship in this place of mercy. Let me glimpse Your glory and be forever changed just a little bit more to look like You! (Romans 8:29)

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

El Chuwl; The God who gives birth. Is it strange to think of God as “one who gives birth”?

Consider the real, messy realities of birth. Bloody. Insides coming out with great travail. Nearly a year of growing a babe (or few) inside, pregnancy comes with its own struggles including heartburn, sleepless nights, hot sweats, stretching skin, painful ligaments tearing under distress, internal organs becoming smashed, and a once-lithe body now awkwardly laboring under a cumbersome load.

Birth comes with wails, pain, grit, tearing, and then, wonderfully, life. Mama weeps with joy as she listens to the most beautiful sound on earth, a newborn’s feeble cry, and strokes the best feeling in the world, silky baby skin, while taking in the sweetest scent known to humanity, freshly birthed life. Now consider, El Chuwl, The God Who Gives Birth.

Take in the incredible humility of this God who authors life, brings it forth, and tenderly holds life close to His divine chest to nurture newness with His own breath.

Behold the beauty of El Chuwl and drink in the truths of this God who cannot forget the work of His hands, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the child of her womb? Even if these forget, yet I will not forget you. Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands…” (Isaiah 49:15-16)

Challenge yourself to carry the image of the Lord as He describes Himself to us as El Chuwl. Decide to remember Him as the God who gives birth and refuses to forget you!

JOURNAL TWO

Rebekah commented that the name, Jehovah Tsidkenu, was a “balm to [her] soul” and “near and dear to [her] heart”.

What names of God are special to you? Slow down to think about and articulate with spoken words why a particular name of God, or trait of His character, is particularly special to you. What need or ache do you recognize in yourself that is healed and satisfied in the heart of God? Pause to praise Him for that now; be specific! Psalm 47:6 exhorts us, “Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise!”

Rebekah’s faith story includes how self-reliant and self-righteous she was until she was faced with the reality that even her good deeds were brought with sin-stained hands, rendering them sin-soaked. She needed a righteousness completely outside herself; we all sit beside her in this.

Melodye wrote of Christ as the “righteous Branch” who would not only make His people righteous, but Who would prepare a city of righteousness for us to dwell with Him. Christ’s blameless righteousness offers to cover our sin-sick wretchedness! Perhaps this name of the gracious, kind Lord is near and dear to you also!

JOURNAL THREE

I’m a mama of 8 Treasures. When they were littles and I pushed them in a stroller, I would often hear comments about how great it would be to be handed snacks and pushed around effortlessly. Who wouldn’t agree?!

Being a mama, a grandmama, a co-worker, a wife, a daughter, sister, or aunt are each challenging in their own ways. When life becomes especially overwhelming, don’t we all wish for the image of that peacefully sleeping little one perfectly cared for and guarded?

Malinda and Stacy’s dive into the Shepherd Psalm reveals that the Almighty God is exactly this kind of kind, attentive, perfectly loving parent for us. Watching for our well-being, leading ahead of us, guarding us against enemies, providing for our needs, even simple ones like food and water.

How have you seen Jehovah Rohi today in your ordinary life? Air, water, food, sleep, relationships, safety, comfort? Have have you seen the Shepherd today? Praise Him for the love you have seen, and then ask Him to open your eyes to see Him in fresh ways! It’s certain He is actively shepherding; will you see Him?!
Tags :
holy,known,names,righteous,worship
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Recent Journeys

Done Day 11 Reconciled Redemption
August 7, 2023
The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 3
July 29, 2023
Known Day 15 Jehovah Nissi: Digging Deeper
July 28, 2023

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Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

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July 10 - July 28, 2023 - Journey Theme #121
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Posted in: Believe, Dwell, God, Know, Worship Tagged: holy, known, names, righteous, worship

The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 1

July 15, 2023 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 1

Rebecca Adams

July 15, 2023

Believe,Christ,Family,Glory,Jesus,Life,Mercy,Perfect

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

John 14:15-17

“If you love me, you will keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching us to pray to the Father, calling Him Our Father, beckoning us to share in the rich relationship You came to sacrifice Yourself so we may enjoy Your family.

Thank You, Spirit, for making the heart of the Father known to us through Jesus. Thank you for comforting our hearts with truth and Your constant presence. Thank You for being coequal to Father and Son as the very Breath of God!

Abba, Father, Your compassion is endless and Your love unfailing. I stand in speechless awe at Your unfathomable authority and lavish grace that brought me near, and the price you paid because of love that I might call You Abba. 

May I live my everyday breathing, speaking, and moving in overflow of this love You’ve poured out into my heart! In the Name above all other Names, Christ Jesus, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Jesus, God the Son, taught us to enter the sacred space of intimate prayer by uttering the unthinkable term of love, endearment, and familiarity with the Almighty God by calling out, “Abba Father.”  

In our culture, we can tend to jump to the far end of Abba by solely focusing on God as close, intimate, gentle, and tender. While these are all true and necessary for our understanding of God as Father as depicted in Scripture, we must also refuse to neglect the other, equally important aspect, of Abba.

He carries all authority over us as His children if we have committed ourselves to Him and entered into father-child relationship with Him through the sacrificial blood of Jesus. What Abba says, is what goes.

 In Hebrew tradition, the calling of “Abba” by a child meant, “Father, I will obey you.” In the context of love and safety and awe-filled respect, I will obey what you say because you are my Abba.

How does your view of God line up with these realities from Scripture? Do you find yourself leaning more to one side or another?

JOURNAL TWO

We know the Father because of the Son. (John 14:7) Christ provides the clarity about what God looks like, sounds like, and demonstrates to us “in person” how God acts. Never are the two out of sync. (John 5:19-20)

Sometimes, our view of Jesus isolates Him from the Father God. We think of Jesus as the “nice” version of God, but not as the actual “full picture” of what God looks like in the flesh. (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus is the big, giant “picture window” through Whom we begin to comprehend the very essence of God.

Get honest with your view of Jesus and pull out a blank sheet of paper. Fill it with as many descriptions of Jesus as you can imagine without any filter. Every adjective goes on the sheet.

Now, go back through and mark with a 1, 2, or 3 how much you personally fully agree with these descriptions. Can you find Scripture evidence for the ones you agree with? Go on a quest this weekend to discover how much of your view of God the Son aligns with His Word about Himself!

JOURNAL THREE

Just as the Son shows us the Father with brilliantly painted strokes of awe and beauty, so the Spirit points us repeatedly back to Jesus, back to Jesus, back to Jesus, so we can see the Father. Every teaching, every reminder, every ounce of comfort provided by the indwelling Holy Spirit of the Living God is meant to speak of Christ that we might come to know more deeply the Father, and therein, the whole of the Triune God. (John 14:16-17)

Similar to the “adjective challenge” for Jesus in prompt #2, do the same for the Spirit of God. Do the number of answers you were able to provide surprise you? Alongside those adjectives, jot down the first 3 questions that come to mind about the Spirit of God. How might you go about finding answers to those questions? Could you start this weekend with your exploration?!

Considering this is the Triune God who has come to earth in the Son for the purpose of being revealed to us through the Spirit that we might know the Father, what better use of our study could there be than to explore the Trinity?! A simple first step is prayer.

Ask the Triune God to make Himself known to you through His Word by His Spirit, then apply yourself to knowing Him more deeply! Consider exploring with the help of this easy-to-read book “Delighting In The Trinity” by Michael Reeves.
Tags :
compassion,father,love,relationship,Son,spirit,Trinity,worship
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Recent Journeys

Done Day 11 Reconciled Redemption
August 7, 2023
The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 3
July 29, 2023
Known Day 15 Jehovah Nissi: Digging Deeper
July 28, 2023

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on the daily?
Registration gives you free, every day access to encouragement, weekly worship prompts, and daily Bible study that applies to real life.
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July 10 - July 28, 2023 - Journey Theme #121
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Posted in: Believe, Christ, Family, Glory, Jesus, Life, Mercy, Perfect Tagged: compassion, father, love, relationship, Son, spirit, Trinity, worship

Known Day 5 Parakletos

July 14, 2023 by Carol Graft Leave a Comment

Known Day 5 Parakletos

Carol Graft

July 14, 2023

Believe,Beloved,Daughter,Faith,Relationship

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Luke 4:16-21
John 14:16-17
1 John 2:1-2
Isaiah 11:1-2

“Yada, yada”
A Hebrew phrase meaning to know and be known on the deepest, most intimate levels.

Perhaps you’ve heard it colloquially as “etc, etc, etc,” or perhaps, closer to its true definition, you’ve heard it means “to be familiar with.”

But Truth?
It means to know God and be known by Him in the deepest of ways.
Nothing hidden. Nothing secret. All things known.

Wait, we might say. What about those times when we are deep in sin, or just stepping into the shallows of sin? What about when we feel impossibly far away from Him, separated by oceans of shame and fear?

Even in those moments, He knows us. 

And perhaps more astonishingly, even in those moments, He loves us. (Romans 5:6-11)
Did you know your name is written in the palm of His hand? (Isaiah 49:16a)

Poet, warrior, and eventual king of Israel, David, even wrote about God knowing humankind as we are formed in our mothers’ wombs. (Psalm 139)
God knows us. 

This Journey Theme is focusing on several traits, characteristics, and attributes of God as revealed through His names. Learning His names, characteristics, and attributes deepens our understanding and experience of knowing God and being known by Him.

Parakletos is a Greek word encompassing several attributes of God: 
Comforter (John 14:15-17)
Counselor (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Advocate or Intercessor (1 John 2:1)

In one of Jesus’ last conversations with His disciples and followers, He promised to send a Comforter, and instructed them to wait in Jerusalem. (Luke 24:44-49) Acts 2 relates how, true to His word, the Comforter was faithful to come to the waiting disciples; He remains readily available to every believer today, as well! 

Did you know this incredible encounter isn’t the first time God as Comforter is mentioned in Scripture? Upon hearing Jesus’ promise of the Comforter’s arrival, the disciples may have recalled Isaiah 61:1-2:
“The Spirit of the LORD God is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and freedom to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of our God’s vengeance;
to comfort all who mourn[.]”

In fact, Jesus read much of this passage aloud and proclaimed its fulfillment in His own self. (Luke 4:16-21) When we find ourselves adrift, grieving, or simply saddened, we can bring our hurt to the God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3) His comforting spirit will overshadow us, lifting our hearts and our spirits. 

  Just as Isaiah, an ancient prophet who spoke God’s word to the people of Israel, prophesied God’s nature as Comforter, he also declared God is our Counselor. 

“For a child will be born for us,
A son will be given to us, 
And the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6)

As we come to know the LORD our Counselor more deeply, we learn to recognize His guidance. 

Sometimes, we might go to God with a question, a concern, a “what is my next step, Lord?” and something sinks into our spirits from Him. Perhaps a word or a phrase or the nudge to read a certain passage of Scripture. 

Sometimes, we might also seek counsel from a trusted friend or mentor, always remembering to weigh their advice against the truth of God’s word in Scripture.

This is God the Counselor at work. 
These nudges are holy. 

Finally, God is our Advocate. Ever sin? Ever repent of that sin? When we repent (commit to changing our thinking and behavior) and ask for God’s forgiveness, God our Advocate works on our behalf:
“My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ the righteous one. He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only ours, but also for those of the whole world.” 
(1 John 2:1-2)

Jesus already paid our sin-price; the debt of sin to a perfectly righteous and holy God that should condemn us has been paid by God Himself, in Jesus. 

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
(Romans 8:1)

Sisters, God is our Comforter, Counselor, and Advocate.

Today, as He perfectly fulfills each one of these characteristics, He is inviting us to know Him and be known by Him in a deep and intimate way.

Tags :
depth,intimacy,knowing,relationship
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Recent Journeys

Done Day 11 Reconciled Redemption
August 7, 2023
The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 3
July 29, 2023
Known Day 15 Jehovah Nissi: Digging Deeper
July 28, 2023

Known Day 5
Digging Deeper

It’s unlikely that talk of the Spirit was totally new to Jesus’ disciples. They had likely read or heard the passages of Scripture referring to the Spirit of God.

We don’t know how much the apostles understood in that moment, but they would come to understand the Spirit was also their Lord and their God. He was not merely a vague vapor or mist. He was not a force or an energy. The Holy Spirit is the breath of God personified!
Dig Deeper!

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Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

  • prayer@gracefullytruthful.com
This Week's Lock Screen
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July 10 - July 28, 2023 - Journey Theme #121

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Posted in: Believe, Beloved, Daughter, Faith, Relationship Tagged: depth, intimacy, knowing, relationship

Sketched XI Day 11 Wearied, Worn; Rested, Revived

July 3, 2023 by Shannelle Logan Leave a Comment

Sketched XI Day 11 Wearied, Worn; Rested, Revived

Shannelle Logan

July 3, 2023

Believe,Deliver,Hope,Identity,Lonely,Mighty

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 19
Hosea 13:1-9
Isaiah 45:1-19
1 Peter 2:1-10

It was not supposed to end this way. 

I shouldn’t be here, hiding under this stupid broom tree. 
I can’t do this anymore, Yahweh. 

I’ve spent three years being stalked by the shadow of death, whether from the wicked king and queen of Israel or the drought and famine brought on by their abandonment of You, Yahweh. 

I OBEYED You and prophesied the drought was coming. In my ensuing time at the Wadi Kidron and with the widow of Zarephath, You brought me to know You.

You are sovereign
You are enough
You are omnipotent
You are truth
You are jealous
You are revealed.

I OBEYED You as You revealed Yourself to be the one true God of Israel,
defeating the prophets of Baal. 
I OBEYED You, announcing the return of the rain to the land. 

Yahweh, we have come so far together, You and I. I expected You to remove King Ahab and Queen Jezebel from power in an act of final victory. Instead, Jezebel has unleashed her fury, swearing to end my life. (1 Kings 19:1-2)

My hope has been crushed; I can no longer walk among the land of the living. “I have had enough!” I wail to the cloud-laden heavens. Collapsing into the dust, I murmur a final prayer of despair. “LORD, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.” (1 Kings 19:4-5) I am wearied and worn. Let me sleep and not wake up.

I feel something shaking me, but I don’t have the energy to open my eyes. A calm voice pierces my malaise. “Get up and eat.” (1 Kings 19:5) As I rub the crust from my eyes, I take in the scene before me. An angelic figure stoops before a gently glowing fire. There is a jar of clear water I immediately reach for to ease my parched throat. To my surprise it is cold and refreshing! And a fluffy warm cake beckons me from the fire’s stones. 

But I’m still tired and sadness still grips my soul. The angelic figure radiates peace, and I lay down again to rest.

“Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” (1 Kings 19:7) My angelic visitor has prepared another meal, then taken a seat by the crackling fire. As I sit beside him, I am cooled by a lingering breeze. 

Feeling rested and revived from the food, sleep, and the angel messenger, I gather myself and begin walking. I need help, encouragement. My purpose seems to have been swept away. The heaviness of loneliness and, dare I, the prophet Elijah who called down fire from Heaven, say it aloud, am shot through with fear. I’m not sure where I’m headed, but I know my angelic visitor had been intentionally sent to revive me for the path my feet will tread. 

Forty days and nights later, I find a cave on the mountainside.
Mt. Horeb.
The place Moses met with Yahweh.

The mountain that had once quaked and smoked with the presence of the Lord as He gave His law to us. My soul trembles within me as my wearied and worn body climbs the cliffs, desperately looking for hope. I can’t stop the tears from running down my beard or the sobs from shaking my shoulders as I am plagued by the extreme ways Israel ravages the relationship with Yahweh represented by that covenant law. How wicked Israel’s rebellion! How ineffective I feel against such darkness. The weight of failure threatens to bury me alive. Anxious, I huddle far from the entrance to the cave, lest I attract dangerous attention. I am exhausted and confused; does Yahweh still see me?

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9) 

I recognize the quiet voice that has directed me along every step of the last three years.
Peace floods as familiarity embraces me, strengthening me. 

Yahweh.

All of my questions and fears come tumbling out. 
“I have been very zealous for the LORD God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.” (1 Kings 19:10)

It is a relief to finally get the words out. Yahweh responds, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the LORD’s presence.” (1 Kings 19:11)

A fierce wind streams into the cave and I cling to the craggy walls. Massive rocks are ripping out of the mountain and breaking into pieces at the cave’s mouth. 

But the wind subsides, and Yahweh is not there. 

I’m confused and just as I recover, an earthquake hits, dropping me to my hands and knees. Fear grips me as the mountain shakes around me. 

But the movement of the Earth subsides, and Yahweh is not there. 

A blazing fire appears at the mouth of the cave, burning with such intensity that no creature could come near. Even a distance away, the heat saps my remaining strength. 

But the fire fades away, and Yahweh is not there. 

Finally, a soft whisper reaches my ears.
I wrap my face into my cloak and make my way to the entrance of the cave.

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:13)

Though I see no one, I feel His presence and repeat my answer. 
But this time, instead of self-righteous indignation and a thinly-veiled challenge to DO SOMETHING, my words are laced with a deep assurance of Yahweh’s sustaining power.

He has sustained me, a follower of the true God, in a wicked time.
He has sustained me through drought and famine.
He has sustained me through a stunning revelation of His holy jealousy over His children.
And yes, He has sustained me as I flee, yet again, for my life.

As Yahweh directs me to anoint a new generation of kings and prophets who are devoted to Him, I realize I have never been alone. Yahweh has been working out His plan all along.

Two weeks later, I arrive in Abel-meholah, and find a young man named Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. I walk into the rain-soaked, muddy fields and cast my cloak onto the young man’s shoulders. 

A Note About Sketched

In Sketched themes, we imaginatively step into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally.

We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters viewed God, themselves, and the world around them.

Perhaps we will find parts of our story reflected in theirs!

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Digging Deeper

I will go before you and level the uneven places I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two.

I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord. I am the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.

I call you by your name, for the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen one. I give a name to you, though you do not know me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God but me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know me,

so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.
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Posted in: Believe, Deliver, Hope, Identity, Lonely, Mighty Tagged: carried, courage, despair, faith, hope, life

The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched XI, Week 2

July 1, 2023 by Katelyn Palmer Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched XI, Week 2

Katelyn Palmer

July 1, 2023

Believe,Broken,Courage,Faith,Glory

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

1 Kings 18:36-38

“At the time for offering the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah approached the altar and said, ‘Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things.

37 Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.’ Then the Lord’s fire fell…”
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Yahweh, I have been reminded this week of my propensity to turn from You to other things and people, even myself, to sustain me just as generations of people before me have done. (Deuteronomy 4:23-27) Thank You for Your continued warnings (Exodus 34:12-17) and Your continued grace (1 Kings 18:37-39) as I navigate my brokenness in this world.

I know Your judgment is just and You rebuke those You love (Proverbs 13:24), so I shall accept my afflictions with gratitude (Psalm 119: 75-76). In my afflictions, give me life according to Your Word and teach me Your statutes. (Psalm 119:107-108) Lord, Your faithfulness, despite my brokenness, always astounds me. (1 Corinthians 1:9)

Yahweh, I ask for Your help in learning to discern Your voice from others. I ask for Your discipline (Hebrews 12:5-6) as I study Your Word and practice patience in waiting for Your answers to my prayers. (Psalm 62:1-2) I ask You for a heart that desires You and seeks Your counsel above all others, a heart like David’s who sought Your ways. (Acts 13:22)

Let me walk through this life with uprightness so that others who fear You may see me and rejoice and be strengthened in their faith. (Psalm 119: 74)
In Your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

When we are struggling deeply inside the griefs of sorrow, loss, and challenges beyond our abilities, we are easily tempted to only see our pain.

Lifting our head feels too difficult, let alone lifting our eyes to see another’s grief or to consider that our limited perspective is not the holistic view of the Lord God. But there comes a point in our suffering, where the intensity of the pain drives us either to surrender or choose to hoard bitterness like a miser who feeds upon it.

The widow in Elijah’s storyline found herself at this crossroads the day her son died. She had witnessed Elijah’s God caring for her, feeding her and her son in the midst of a multi-year famine, but still, it wasn’t enough for her to choose Yahweh as her God. The Lord did not bring her more abundance to help her eyes finally see and choose Him, He brought her a pain so great and a loss so deep, she simply must choose to either worship or walk away.

If you’ve experienced loss of some kind, how have you navigated these waters of decision? What factors have drawn you closer, pleading with you to surrender to the God whose “goodness and mercy” have continued to pursue you?

In what ways have you been tempted to turn away, trust yourself, and pull your pain ever-closer like a tattered blanket? In what ways do you sense the Lord calling you in this moment?
JOURNAL TWO

Elijah’s everyday faith, that grew over time as the Lord taught him to trust, is a great example of acting out our faith in daily life. The way Elijah speaks with the Lord while awaiting His instructions at the widow’s house is a great model for us.

When we feel the freedom to speak with the Lord as though He is a friend sitting across from us, we become actively engaged with Him and focus our thoughts on Him. Additionally, we see Elijah pause in anticipation of a response from the Lord. While it may not be an immediate response – in fact, Elijah spent years waiting for his next instructions – it is vital we intentionally listen for God’s voice when we speak with Him.

This helps us learn to discern His voice from others, including our own; learn patience, as God will answer us when He is ready and not a moment sooner. In actively listening for the Lord, we learn to trust Him regardless of our circumstances. As we seek God’s counsel each time we are faced with a decision, we learn to lean on His ways over our own more and more. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Insistently engaging God and seeking His counsel is something others will begin to see in our lives, just as the widow witnessed in Elijah. Consider whose faith-life has influenced your own. Praise God for their impact!

Ask the Lord to strengthen and increase your faith, making you aware of those around you who are being influenced by your walk with the Lord!

JOURNAL THREE

Humankind was made in God’s image. (Genesis 1:27) God created everything we see (Genesis 1:1-27). Being made in His image means that, because He is creative, we, too, have been blessed with creativity. When we use our creativity for His purposes, we reflect His glory back to Him and the world around us. This is true for every good aspect of our humanity.

Unfortunately, we often use what was intended to bring the Lord glory and instead wield its power to our detriment. The most obvious way we do this is through idolatry. (Jeremiah 2:5-9)

Idolatry in Elijah’s time was blatantly apparent with images they worshiped. Baal was the reigning “god” among king Ahab’s people, as well as Asherah, two universal gods of fertility. (1 Kings 16:31-33) While idolatry in our time covertly disguises itself, we are still sacrificing parts of ourselves in the name of gods that have no real power  like social media, cancel culture, approval of others, money, and image.

The prophets of Baal and Asherah who faced Elijah in 1 Kings 18:20-40 gave themselves over to something mankind created thinking it would give them ultimate power. When Elijah calls on the Lord, he knows that he himself is not capable of calling the fire, but God is outside of himself.

God was the Source of power, Elijah was meant to use his life to reflect God’s glory back to Him. What are we giving ourselves to that doesn’t have the power to sustain us like God? Which idols are your favorite?
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Posted in: Believe, Broken, Courage, Faith, Glory Tagged: comfort, glory, hope, power, prayer

Sketched XI Day 7 What Do You Have Against Me?: Digging Deeper

June 27, 2023 by Marietta Taylor Leave a Comment

Sketched XI Day 7 What Do You Have Against Me?: Digging Deeper

Marietta Taylor

June 27, 2023

Believe,Community,Enough,Faith,Restored,Truth,Yahweh

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "What Do You Have Against Me?"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 17:17-24

17 After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness got worse until he stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “Man of God, what do you have against me? Have you come to call attention to my iniquity so that my son is put to death?” 19 But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, brought him up to the upstairs room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, have you also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son?”

21 Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times.ad He cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again!” 22 So the Lord listened to Elijah, and the boy’s life came into him again, and he lived.

23 Then Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upstairs room into the house, and gave him to his mother. Elijah said, “Look, your son is alive.” 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know you are a man of God and the Lord’s word from your mouth is true.”
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why did the widow ask Elijah if he was calling attention to her sin? (verse 18)

Elijah had lived in the widow’s home for a period of time (1 Kings 17:8-16) and she had experienced the miraculous power of God sustain her and her son in a devastating drought; by this, the widow knew God was with Elijah.

When her son fell ill, she likely expected God to again display His miraculous power. Instead, her son died. Maybe Elijah’s God was not the giver of life after all. In her grief, she began the age-old game of blaming. (Genesis 3:11-13) First, she blamed Elijah, then she blamed her own, unspecified sin for her son’s death. According to David Guzik, “Whatever her sin was, the guilty memory of it was always close to her.” (Enduring Word)

Now that the one closest to her was gone, all she could see was her sin and her grief. Self-loathing and Shame are horrible places to dwell, but this is exactly where this grief-ridden mama found herself. 

Another likely reason for her self-shaming guilt was her cultural and spiritual background. Baal worshipers were taught that their sins would be met with anger and fury from Baal. (Cornerstone Church Kingston) Since this was what she believed of Baal, seeing her son die in the presence of the “Man of God”, caused her to naturally assume Elijah’s God operated the same as Baal.

Again, the question of, “Is it true that Elijah’s God is the giver of life” is up for debate in her heart and mind; she chooses her answer based on her spiritual background and not on her most recent experience with God. 

The Everyday Application

1) Why did the widow ask Elijah if he was calling attention to her sin? (verse 18)

Many years ago, my husband and I went through a rough patch. He was in a car accident and had some minor injuries and resulting back pain. A week later, I had a car accident and had to be transported to the ER for observation. A couple weeks later, he started having trouble at his job, and on and on it went for a time. We had some professing Christians say to our faces that we needed to get rid of our sin so God would start blessing us and quit punishing us.

This is wrong theology! John 16:33 says, “You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” This world is a hard place and trouble will come. We cannot avoid it, but we have no fear because God is with us and will help us through it all. (John 14:18-21) God allows the sun to rise and the rain to fall on both the evil and the good. (Matthew 5:45)

Haven’t we all witnessed someone enjoying what looks like a blessing, but turns out to be an ill-gotten gain? Can hard things be the result of sin? Yes. Are we the ones who can absolutely determine that every time? No.

If we think something might be the result of a specific sin, we can ask the Lord to reveal it to us and convict us by His Spirit, allowing us to confess and repent. If He does not show us anything, then we can know this is most likely a growth opportunity as it was for the widow.

I like how Sermon Notebook phrases it, “God’s method for growing us isn’t always pleasant, nor is it fun. However, it is essential that we pass through the growing process so that we can be better used of the Lord. As God takes us through the battles, and we see Him win them all by His power, we are enabled, by faith, to trust Him for even greater victories.”

The Original Intent

2) Why did Elijah ask the Lord if He killed the widow’s son? (verse 20)

Elijah, and indirectly, God, had been blamed for the death of the widow’s son. Rain had not fallen, therefore, according to God’s promise in 1 Kings 17:13-14, flour and oil should still be plentiful, allowing everyone in the home to still be living.

That would be true, if flour and oil, if bread alone, were the Source of life. But Scripture teaches differently. (Colossians 1:17) In fact, Christ taught differently by saying, “Man should not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) Perhaps the Lord took the boy’s life, proving His authority over life and death, that the woman’s heart might learn to lean on Truth instead of her own understanding.

Elijah could not make sense of this turn of events. Surely, it was very discouraging after all the life-giving things he had seen God do in his own life and the widow’s. So, he took his crisis of faith to the True Source, Yahweh. This is very reminiscent of King Hezekiah who took his concerns about his enemies’ death threats and even his failing health to the Lord, expecting God to handle it, regardless of Hezekiah’s personal confidence level. (Got Questions)

This was Elijah’s way of drawing near to God at a time when his faith was rattled, yet believing God could do the impossible, just like we see so many times on the Psalms. Elijah had learned a lesson the widow had not yet owned for herself, within God’s sustenance, Truth lived, regardless of circumstance, and He was worthy of Elijah’s worship. 

The Everyday Application

2) Why did Elijah ask the Lord if He killed the widow’s son? (verse 20)

It’s so easy to have faith when things are going well. So easy to not doubt. But when things get really tough, does our faith flourish or does it wither? Elijah prayed such an honest prayer, bringing his confusion and doubt to the Lord, but then he immediately demonstrated his faith in God’s character.

If you read through even just a few psalms, you’ll see this rhythm played out over and over in the raw honesty of the psalmists. Another great example of a “Why God?! But I trust You, God” prayer is found in Daniel. Jami helps us understand these depths well in her Journey Study, “Why God?”. She beautifully offers us this encouragement, “God doesn’t require us to have all of the answers, and we can rest knowing we don’t need them. He simply welcomes us, right now, as we are, to trust Him for the Journey.”

Rest in the knowledge that if He did not chastise Moses (Exodus 33:12-26), or the man whose son was demon-possessed (Mark 9:23-24), or even doubting Thomas, His own disciple (John 20:25-29), He will not chastise us for our moments of doubt, unbelief or lack of faith either. 

The Original Intent

3) What does the resurrection of the widow’s son teach us about truth? (verse 21)

The widow had decided God was not trustworthy. Meanwhile, Elijah was depending on God to be truthful and faithful to His character, which was why he was confident in asking God to resurrect the widow’s son. Elijah knew that nothing he specifically did would bring the boy back, But God…with God, nothing was impossible! (Luke 1:37)

The Sermon Notebook says, “God honored the faith of the prophet and raised the child to life again. Why? Because Elijah trusted God by faith!” If by faith we believe, God is ABLE to do the impossible, we have laid the necessary groundwork for coming before the Father who is “able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20) The widow, seeing her son brought back to life, realized that everything Elijah had ever spoken about his God was true. God was indeed both giver and sustainer of life.

“Elijah’s miraculous, never-ending oil jar hints at such life-giving power, but it is the widow’s witnessing of her child’s renewed life that convinces her.” (Working Preacher) She realizes that Yahweh is NOT like Baal. It is true that He is compassionate and does not cause harm just for harm’s sake. Everything He does is intentionally for good. (Genesis 50:20) And the truth is, it took suffering to get her to this place of firm belief. I believe in the end, that was okay with her. 

The Everyday Application

3) What does the resurrection of the widow’s son teach us about truth? (verse 21)

There are so many promises in the Bible, but one that is commonly quoted and is among my favorites is Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you or abandon you”, which was first given in Deuteronomy 31:6.

God never changes, His character is always the same, and His promises never fail. Just read through Hebrews 11, listing out all the heroes of the faith. They all trusted God, but not all saw His final promise. What made them heroes in spite of this? They trusted that God’s Word was Truth.

We don’t even need to wing it, stretching beyond all reason that what God says is trustworthy, for He has provided His Word, His testimony in His people, and His Spirit to teach us all truth. In John 17:17, Jesus asks God the Father, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” 

Every good thing that happens. Every hardship we endure. Every stronghold that is broken. Every wound that is bound and healed. Everything comes back to the character of God.

Can we trust Him? Resoundingly, Yes!

“God is not a man, that He might lie, or a son of man, that He might change His mind. Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19)

Our God is Truth so we can always trust that no matter how the landscape of our lives appears, He is in control and He will keep His promises. 

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Journey Study

My son lives! Elijah has done this!

No; my heart pulls back at those words. It is his God, his Yahweh.

Recognition and realization of truth washes over me as my heart and voice affirm what my eyes have seen, “Now I know you are a man of God and the LORD’s word from your mouth is true.
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Posted in: Believe, Community, Enough, Faith, Restored, Truth, Yahweh Tagged: comfort, doubt, faith, rest, trust, Truth

Worship XI Day 1 Alef & Bet

May 29, 2023 by Deborah Rutherford 1 Comment

Worship XI Day 1 Alef & Bet

Deborah Rutherford

May 29, 2023

Adoration,Believe,Broken,Called,Deep

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:1-16
Romans 8:28-30
James 1:19-27
Jeremiah 29:8-19
Ephesian 5:25-28

“How happy are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk according to the LORD’s instruction!”
(Psalm 119:1)

Because of His great love for us, God wants to share His mercy, grace, and kindness with us. (Ephesians 2:4-9) Through Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection, we are cleaned from the stain of sin, redeemed by grace through faith. But if our salvation is unearned, what is our role in pursuing a blameless way?

Psalm 119:1-16  points us toward holy living when we open our Bibles and spend time in God’s presence through prayer and Scripture. By meditating on Scripture, His Word is imprinted on our hearts and minds, teaching us His laws and ways. There, refreshed and nurtured, we abide in His Word. (John 15:4-5, ESV)

We pursue blamelessness when we meet with God daily in prayer and His Word, where He shares His written revelation.
Then, we can choose to “be doers of the word.” (James 1:22)

God’s Word lights our path so we do not stumble in living delighted, holy lives pleasing Him.

As a once-prodigal daughter, I bought into the idea that a defiled life was fun. I wanted to do what was right in my own eyes, not God’s. The world supports an anti-God life, but this kind of life got me into trouble. I am grateful Jesus loved me so much, He brought me home and shows me how to live joyfully in Him, following His ways. 

 So how does a young woman keep her way pure? (Psalm 119:9) 
By guarding her life with God’s Word and seeking Him with her whole heart, so she does not wander from His commandments. 

To my younger self, I would say “Pray, read, meditate, and study your Bible. Begin now, do not delay learning the Lord’s ways. Seeking your own way outside of Jesus is sinful rebellion leading to destruction.” 

As we become students of Scripture and prayer, God shows us His standard of purity, guides us through its challenges, and reveals His reasons for righteousness and the blessings of holiness. 

Furthermore, He wants to spare us from the bondage of sin. When times get hard, God’s Word, imprinted on our hearts and minds, steers us toward Him, brings us joy (Psalm 119:14), and renews our minds (Romans 12:1-2). God’s Word is a lamp to light our path, clearing away distractions, confusion, and temptations. (Psalm 119:105)

Busyness, social media, and daily worries seek to distract us and steal our peace, rest, and time with God. Instead, let’s throw aside temptation and pursue what we need and long for, God. Our obedience brings blessings. Our delight is in obeying Him. Therefore, pray fervently, knowing only God can keep us blameless.

Approaching my Bible in the morning, I feel the presence of my Abba. (Galatians 4:6) He fills my parched soul with His living water. (John 4:13-14) Jesus draws me into a delightful space where I encounter the grace of Father, Teacher, and Comforter as He shares love, wisdom, joy, and laughter. 

Only God gives true, happy delight. Without Him, we are left empty and unsatisfied. I know I was. But Jesus showed me a better way to live by inviting me into His Word to know Him and sit in His presence as He teaches me the mysteries, knowledge, and law. Here, I found the heart of God, full of all His glorious promises and wisdom. 

Even when distractions clamor for my attention, there is a pocket of peace in my heart when I meet with Him. I sing praises for all He is doing, has done, and will do; even when hard things happen, I can sing, “[N]ever abandon me” (Psalm 119:8), for my heart belongs to You, and I long to be close to You.  

Sisters, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, delighting in His statutes, and forgetting not His Word. (Psalm 119:15-16) Let’s make space in our day for prayer and Scripture, studying, meditating on, and applying it. Let’s seek Him with our whole hearts, praising Him and sharing Him, telling of His wonderful works. When sin tries to entrap us again, we will have God’s Word imprinted on our hearts, keeping us free in Jesus Christ. 

Delight joyfully in His presence! Pour your heart out to Jesus because we depend entirely on Him for our breath, heartbeat, and hope.

Blessed ones, run to the Father because in His presence is the holy ground where we live a joyful life.

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Worship XI Day 2
Digging Deeper

Do we grumble and “roll with the punches,” or do we grab hold of what is true and good, and meditate on God’s word even as we wipe noses, walk the dog, and file paperwork?

If love isn’t about how we feel in a given moment, and is instead a humble demonstration of willing obedience in all things, do we create space in our days to meditate on the perfect, holy law of God?
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Posted in: Adoration, Believe, Broken, Called, Deep Tagged: free, hope, life, worship

Mission Day 14 The Treasure Of Mission: Digging Deeper

May 25, 2023 by Rachel Jones Leave a Comment

Mission Day 14 The Treasure Of Mission: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

May 25, 2023

Believe,Blessed,Faith,Fruitfulness,Joy

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "The Treasure Of Mission"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Peter 1:3-10

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What constitutes “everything required for life and godliness” that God’s divine power has given us? (verse 3)

Peter wrote his letter in response to “reports of false teachers in and among the churches in Asia Minor. The apostle warned them about the insidious presence of those who spread heresies among the people.” (Chuck Swindoll)

Peter wanted believers to realize that God’s divine power provided everything they required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called them by His own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)

Peter knew there would be no danger of Christians being influenced by heretics if they could firmly grasp the truth God had already provided through His Word. As author David Guzik points out, “Knowing God is the key to all things that pertain to life and godliness.” Peter taught that when we come to Jesus, God gives us the ability to share in His divine nature through the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7)

We have the opportunity to live in Christ, free from the bonds of sin that once held us captive. (Hebrews 2:15) Genuine Christ-followers are fully empowered by God’s own strength, which is shown to be perfect when set against the backdrop of our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Matthew Harmon and John Sloat of The Gospel Coalition point out that “By partaking in the divine nature through Christ, [Christians] are experiencing the restoration of God’s image in them.” Our knowledge of God, including His love and grace for us and His promises to us, enables us to walk in His ways and become more like Him.

What an encouragement to know that everything we need to live a life that pleases God is already ours because of the power of Jesus in our lives!

The Everyday Application

1) What constitutes “everything required for life and godliness” that God’s divine power has given us? (verse 3)

Have you ever purchased a major appliance like a dishwasher or clothes dryer, just to discover it does not come with a power cord? This requires a return trip to the store to purchase one or figure out how to attach the one from your old appliance to your new one. It is so exasperating! You make these purchases so infrequently you forget about this not-included necessity. After all, you expected your purchase would include the main thing required to make it function; without the power source, your shiny new appliance is just an oversized, overpriced storage unit.

In 2 Peter 1:3, Peter makes the point that when you accept Christ as your Savior you are “hooked up” to His power immediately. In fact, His divine power provides you with everything needed to live a godly life. You don’t need to get the “upgrade” or buy the “accessory kit.” God gives you everything you need to live a godly life from Day One.

John Piper suggests, “The mark of sonship is divine power. And the mark of power is godliness; which means a love for the things of God and a walk in the ways of God.” Everything that is required to live a godly life is just this: knowing God, which connects you to His divine power. God graciously gives this power needed to live a life of godliness when you come to Him. His love and grace draw you to Him (John 12:32) and motivate you to follow after Him (John 14:15).

Trusting God not only saves, this intimate knowing of Him also empowers our daily life as believers!

The Original Intent

2) Why do we need to supplement our faith? (verses 5-8)

Faith. Goodness. Knowledge. Self-Control. Endurance. Godliness. Brotherly Affection. Love. Through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, Peter teaches Christ-followers to actively cultivate these seven qualities in their lives by submitting to the work of the Holy Spirit within them. (2 Peter 1:5-8)

Supplementing our faith is like taking an already strong foundation and building upon it to make an unshakeable, towering structure. It’s not that the foundation needed help, but rather that we are intended to build the whole edifice of a solid, God-honoring life and not be content with a foundation alone. The strong foundation of faith provides a starting point for growing in godly character. John Piper suggests, “Since God has given power for godliness, strive to become godly! This is the heart of New Testament ethics. We labor for virtue because God has already labored for us and is at work in us.”

God desires His people to stand upon the good work He is doing in our lives (Philippians 2:13) and the power for godliness He provides and build upon it to make ourselves more and more like Jesus through the connective work of the Spirit. Christ-followers are to take an active role in their own development by working in partnership with the Spirit of God.

Peter urges us to be purposeful in advancing our faith (1 Timothy 4:7), building one virtue upon another as we become more like Jesus. If we don’t supplement our faith, we are in danger of becoming useless or unfruitful to God’s purposes, chief of which is becoming like Christ. (Romans 8:29)

We cannot fulfill God’s plans and purposes if we don’t progress and move forward in our faith (Ephesians 4:11-15). If we are stagnant, we are not growing more like Christ and our lives are missing out on testifying of God’s power.

The Everyday Application

2) Why do we need to supplement our faith? (verses 5-8)

I taught Spanish for 7 years, and even after becoming a stay at home mom, I taught homeschool co-op classes and lessons for my own kids. It has been a while since I taught a Spanish lesson or used Spanish for conversing and I’ve noticed my skills have declined. My husband, on the other hand, has been teaching Spanish for over 20 years, and his abilities continue to significantly improve. He purposefully immerses himself in Spanish through reading, watching television, conversing, and listening to media. We both graduated college as proficient speakers, but he is now closer to fluent because of his supplemental work whereas I have moved downward due to my lack of focus.

This effort to build on a solid foundation works in a spiritual realm as well. The Apostle Peter admonishes us in 2 Peter 1:5-8, “make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Just like my husband’s Spanish language skills grew because he supplemented it with reading and listening, we can grow our faith by adding goodness and godliness and love through the divine power of God.

Similarly, just as my Spanish skills atrophied from non-use, our faith can become fruitless when we don’t supplement by adding self-control, endurance and the other characteristics.

Be encouraged that God makes it possible to build our faith by working with His grace and power (Ephesians 3:7) to cultivate godly qualities in our lives (John 15:5). Where is the Spirit leading you to cultivate His fruit in your everyday life? Lean in with excitement and submit to His leadership to grow deeper!

The Original Intent

3) How can we confirm our calling and election? (verse 10)

After encouraging his readers to live godly lives empowered by God and strengthen them by supplementing their faith with Christ-like characteristics, Peter urges Christians to “make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble”. (2 Peter 1:10)

Peter urges believers to be purposeful in carrying out the call of God on their lives. The more Christians exhibit attributes of Jesus, like love and self-control, the more we rely on the truth that God chose us and called us to be His co-laborers for His mission. (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Matthew Harmon and John Sloat assert, “Those who are diligent in pursuing their calling and practicing these virtues will never fall away from Christ, thus demonstrating that God has chosen them.” The more we become like Jesus, the more obvious it is He called us to be His own and chose us to carry out His will. The evidence is undeniable! (Ephesians 2:10)

John Piper suggests, “The confirmation of your election is your progress in sanctification. God predestined all the elect to be conformed to the image of Christ. (Romans 8:29) Therefore, the reassuring evidence of our election is Christ-likeness.”

Peter knows Christians will not fall away from God if they can be reminded and reassured that God is for them by seeing the fruit of His Spirit in their lives. (Galatians 5:22-23)

There is security in knowing beyond a doubt that God is working in our lives, and acting from this position of surety and strength enables us to be more edifying and encouraging to others who have heard His call to follow Him along the Way. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

The Everyday Application

3) How can we confirm our calling and election? (verse 10)

The best schools emphasize internships and real-world experience before launching students into careers. Exposure to hands-on training is an integral part of the program. As a teaching, having the best practices and theories at your disposal is important but synthesizing it in the classroom is essential.

Knowledge alone is not enough. You must practice what you know to hone your craft and confirm that teaching is the right profession for you. More than one student-teacher has changed career paths after a few months spent in the classroom! One reason the most respected school administrators are former classroom teachers is because they have hard-earned experience in creating the best learning environments.

This type of hands-on development is what Peter advocates for when he instructs his readers through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to “make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.” (2 Peter 1:10)

When Christ-followers become more confident of God’s call on their lives, they are more eager to humbly allow His power to shape them to become like Jesus. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

When we see the love and compassion of Christ reflected in our own actions to those around us and confidently know this work is a result of God’s Spirit and not our own ability, we understand why God chose us to be His hands and feet to impact those around us in His Name. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

As we do the things God has called us to live out through the empowerment of His Spirit, we realize we are fulfilling the plans and purposes He laid out for us before we even knew His name or answered His call. (Psalm 139:16) This is a place of richest delight and satisfaction!

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